News that Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is to be delayed until November 2011 has prompted iBurst to implement a solution to circumvent the unavailability of LLU in South Africa.

That’s according to Jannie van Zyl, Group CEO of telecoms provider iBurst, which has just launched its own 20 Mbps ADSL2+ service, a first in South Africa which will utilise privately-owned copper infrastructure within multi-tenant environments such as gated communities, shopping centres and offices parks.

“iBurst Business threw caution to the wind with the rationale that a technology that is already ubiquitous throughout the world should be available when the world comes to South Africa for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We simply cannot wait any longer if we are to meet expectations and provide ADSL services of a global standard,” explained Mr Van Zyl.

He added that innovation in the LLU sector will result in lower prices thanks to increased competition while also seeing a plethora of new products being released into the market.

iBurst Business is already deploying the necessary DSLAM routers required for access to ADSL2+ technology within two proof of concept networks in Gauteng. In a typical example of the benefits of having access to multiple proprietary networks, the DSLAMs are connected to iBurst’s core network via its own fibre and microwave infrastructure.

Impressive speed improvements, the ability to do business with a last mile provider other than Telkom and the fact that existing ADSL routers that may have already been installed can be used with the ADSL2+ service, , are just some of the benefits of iBurst’s ADSL2+ technology that have been cited by tenants within the first two proof of concept developments.

Mr Van Zyl said that the iBurst Business’s 20 Mbps ADSL2+ solution will be around R400 per month while the company will also offer 5 Mbps, 10 Mbps and 15 Mbps services available at lower rates. Subscribers purchase ADSL2+ data bundles to suit their needs with the significant advantage that there is no forced analogue voice line rental which has been the bugbear of the South African telecoms consumer for many years now.

The new ADSL2+ service serves as an additional access network complementing the iBurst’s existing Metronet, Fibre, iBurst Wireless, WiMAX and satellite networks. Presently, the ADSL2+ network canonly be offered to clients with privately owned copper networks and not the end consumer.

Regarding the future, Mr Van Zyl added that the fun won’t stop at 20 Mbps. “We are currently improving uplink speeds on the ADSL2+ product to 3 Mbps and also have plans to launch a 40 Mbps ADSL2+ service with a 6 Mbps uplink speed that will link two ADSL2+ connections. As the market has already seen, when we say we will launch something, we actually follow through and keep our promises,” concluded Mr Van Zyl.